Bathing water quality monitoring of Varna Black Sea coastal zone, Bulgaria

Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the bathing waters in Varna's Black Sea coastal area were investigated during year 2007 at 23 monitoring stations. Most of the determined physicochemical parameters-pH, mineral oils, surface active substances, phenols, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and microbiological parameters-"Total coliforms", "Faecal coliforms", "Faecal streptococci" were in compliance with the guidline' limits and exhibited good water quality. Ammonium and phosphate's pollution above the limits was determined at the South beach, Officers beach and Central beach situated in Varna's central bathing zone. For the period of 13.08 to 24.10.2007-70% of the South beach samples analyzed for NH (4) (+) exceeded the limits 60 times and the concentrations of PO (4) (3-) exceeded the limits 17.5 times. Some deviations from the guidline' limits regarding the microbiology were exhibited at the same beaches. A conclusion is made that the area of study is not yet seriously threatened, in spite of the rapid recreation during the last years.